CD Review

Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Sony in conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera are reissuing a number of fine broadcast recordings of several operas recorded in the post war period up to more recent provenance. This version of Rossini's The Barber of Seville features a stunning cast with the youthful Lily Pons alongside di Stefano and Valdengo, so the singing is of the expected high calibre.

The recording dates from 1950 and is expectedly rather dull and muddy but otherwise the sense of occasion is there for all to hear. Sony provides no libretto, only cueing tracks and a short synopsis but collectors will want this otherwise unavailable performance mostly for the stunning Lily Pons.